Despite a hectic fourth quarter and a wild finish, Northwestern football took down UCLA on Saturday, winning 17-14 in a game that ended much closer than it initially appeared at halftime.
While it came
against a winless UCLA squad, the victory was still a must for NU. The ’Cats dominated the first half, stumbled late, but ultimately secured the win.
Offensively, NU leaned on the ground game, with Caleb Komolafe and Joseph Himon II rushing for 119 and 58 yards, respectively, and Komolafe adding a touchdown. Stone finished 12-for-18 with 115 yards and a score, while Griffin Wilde posted a big day with 98 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the ’Cats surrendered 311 yards and 18 first downs. Though they wavered in the second half, they held firm when it mattered most. Robert Fitzgerald was all over the field, leading the team with nine tackles.
Northwestern won the toss and deferred, giving UCLA the first possession. On third-and-long, Iamaleava connected with Rico Flores Jr. for a 15-yard gain. The drive quickly stalled as Garner Wallace and Anto Saka teamed up for a sack to force a punt.
The ’Cats opened deep in their own territory, starting at the 11-yard line. Komolafe jump-started the drive with runs of seven and five yards, followed by gains of eight and 10 from Komolafe and Himon. Stone then connected with Wilde for a 15-yard completion.
Exploiting UCLA’s shaky run defense, the ’Cats kept it on the ground on third down to cross into Bruin territory. On fourth-and-four, they kept the offense out, and Stone came through with a 20-yard strike to Wilde on a corner route. After a sack stalled the drive in the red zone, Jack Olsen capped the 17-play march with a 33-yard field goal.
NU forced a quick three-and-out and began its second drive at the 31-yard line. Northwestern went back to the ground game, picking up a first down on two runs before Stone found Hunter Welcing on a screen for 22 yards. The ’Cats crossed midfield as the drive carried into the second quarter. By the end of the first, they had more than doubled UCLA’s time of possession and outgained the Bruins 113-29.
To open the second quarter, Himon broke free for a 25-yard run. After a short gain, Komolafe bobbled a pitch from Stone but recovered it and cruised in for a 9-yard touchdown. Olsen’s extra point stretched Northwestern’s lead to 10–0.
After gaining nine yards on its first three plays, UCLA kept the drive alive with a fake punt that Jaivian Thomas converted on fourth down. The chaos continued when Iamaleava landed on a defender and rolled forward for another first down. But on fourth down again at NU’s 36, Aidan Hubbard and Michael Kilbane broke through for a sack, halting the Bruins’ best drive of the day and giving the ’Cats the ball back.
NU opened its next drive on the ground, as Himon ripped off a 20-yard gain. Stone and Wilde then continued their strong connection, picking up a 25-yard strike downfield before linking up again for a 10-yard touchdown on a run-pass option. The duo’s rhythm gave the ’Cats a commanding 17-0 edge.
The Bruins converted a pair of third downs to push into Northwestern territory. Iamaleava then hit Kwazi Gilmer, advancing to the NU 25 with 52 seconds left in the half. UCLA stopped the clock and kicked a field goal in the final seconds, cutting the deficit to 17–3 at halftime.
At halftime, Stone was nearly flawless, going 9-of-11 for 104 yards and a touchdown. Northwestern’s ground game added 108 yards, with Komolafe contributing 57 and Himon 55. The ’Cats outgained UCLA 212–154, held the Bruins to just a late field goal and recorded two sacks. Carrying a 17–3 lead, NU looked to build on its dominant first half as it received the opening kickoff of the second.
To open the second half, Komolafe picked up six yards on a run to the left before Drew Wagner gained eight on an end-around. Facing a long third down, Stone kept the drive alive with a 15-yard strike to Wilde. The six-minute drive stalled, and the ’Cats elected to punt from UCLA’s 37. The kick went into the end zone, resulting in a net of just 17 yards.
The Bruins opened the drive facing third-and-long, but Iamaleava scrambled 32 yards into Northwestern territory. A flea flicker to Flores Jr. added 18 more, and Iamaleava later stood tall in the pocket to hit Gilmer for another third-down conversion inside the 10. Northwestern’s defense held firm, forcing a field goal that cut the lead to 17–6 with under three minutes left in the third frame.
The ’Cats began their next drive at the 31-yard line after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on UCLA. NU later rolled the dice on fourth down at its own 41, converting to extend the possession. The gamble paid off, and Northwestern carried a 17–6 lead into the fourth quarter.
NU began moving down the field after a pass interference call on a defender who hit Hayden Eligon II and a Stone 10-yard pickup. Komolafe then powered the offense inside the 10 with consecutive gains of 13 and eight yards. But the ’Cats were stopped three straight times inside the three, and their 20-yard field goal attempt was blocked. The choice to kick instead of going for it backfired.
UCLA struck quickly, stringing together several 10-yard gains before Iamaleava hit Gilmer for a 29-yard touchdown. The Bruins converted the two-point try to make it 17–14. What had seemed like a comfortable lead was suddenly trimmed to just a field goal.
The ’Cats opened a crucial drive with a drop by Himon before Stone scrambled for eight yards. Komolafe followed with a 10-yard run to move the chains, but the drive soon stalled, and NU was forced to punt.
Northwestern’s defense answered the call with a three-and-out. Wagner then muffed the return, but the ball bounced out of bounds, allowing NU to retain possession with under two minutes to play. Komolafe followed with runs of four and two yards, setting up a crucial third-and-four. Stone tried to escape the pocket but was sacked, bringing out the punt team. Luke Akers’ kick went into the end zone, giving the Bruins the ball at their own 20.
The Bruins started the drive with a run from Iamaleava before he escaped pressure to complete a nine-yard pass. On the following play, Saka and Braydon Brus broke through for a crucial sack, and Brus sealed the win with a tackle to end the game.
The ’Cats will be in action next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT on BTN, hosting Louisiana-Monroe for their homecoming game at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
